The Great Pyramid of Giza, a testament to ancient Egyptian ingenuity, is renowned for its colossal size and precise engineering. However, a distinctive feature sets it apart from other pyramids: its flat summit. This seemingly unfinished top has puzzled historians and archaeologists for centuries. Why does the Great Pyramid have a flat top, rather than a pointed apex like many other pyramids?

Pyramid of Giza

The flat summit is primarily due to the missing pyramidion, also called a capstone. This topmost piece, likely made of a different material such as granite or limestone, was removed sometime in antiquity. Ancient records, such as those from Pliny the Elder, confirm that the capstone was already absent in their time. The exact reason for its removal is not known. Theories range from earthquake damage to looting or even intentional removal by later civilizations.

The pyramidion held significant symbolic meaning, representing the celestial realm and completing the structure. Its absence leaves the pyramid with a flat platform at the peak. The pyramidion was likely modeled on a mystical stone known as the Ben Ben Stone. Some believe this legendary stone was a meteorite. The capstones on other pyramids are modeled after this original pyramid-shaped Ben Ben Stone.

While the missing capstone explains the flat top, the extent of the summit’s flatness and the missing layers of stone are also part of the mystery. Unlike other pyramids that retain a pointed shape even after the removal of their casing stones, the Great Pyramid exhibits a wide, flat summit, indicating additional destruction. Historical records are inconsistent regarding the pyramid’s height and the summit’s condition. Some ancient accounts from Diodora’s Siculus and Pliny the Elder, both from the 1st century, already describe the summit as flat. Diodora’s measured each side at the top as 2.76 meters, while Pliny described a smaller platform of 1.22 meters on each side. Averaging these measurements, the summit was about 2 meters on each side.

Later measurements taken around 1200 AD by Ab-dal Latif Al-Baghdadi describe the casing stones still intact and a summit length of 5.78 meters. This indicates that, at some point, around 3.68 meters of height was removed. By 1395, the casing stones were being removed for reuse. However, after the removal of the casing stones, tracking the pyramid’s height became difficult because visitors started counting the courses of stones. These counts varied greatly and were often inaccurate due to inconsistencies in the stone layers.

By the late 18th century, the pyramid’s summit underwent a significant act of destruction. Around 1798, the final five courses of stones were removed from the summit. This destruction, likely organized by pyramid guides to create a more tourist-friendly platform, resulted in the wide flat surface seen today. Before this event, the summit was smaller and consisted of six oversized blocks from course 206. This course provided some stability to the pyramid.

In conclusion, the Great Pyramid’s flat summit is not simply the result of a missing capstone. It is a product of:

  • The removal of the pyramidion
  • Natural erosion
  • Intentional destruction over centuries
  • A large act of removal of the final courses by guides seeking to make the summit more suitable for visitors in 1798.

The flat summit of the Great Pyramid stands as a reminder that human actions can significantly alter even the most enduring monuments.

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